Monday, October 1, 2012

International Day of Older Persons celebrated in Haryana

by Haryananewswire
CHANDIGARH, OCT 1
The International Day of Older Persons was celebrated throughout Haryana today and to mark this day, Geriatric Medicine Clinic was inaugurated in New OPD of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak by Rajya Sabha member Mr. Shadi Lal Batra and distinguished guest, MLA Mr. B.B.Batra. The theme for International Day of Older Persons 2012 was “Longevity, Shaping the Future”.
          While stating this today, an official spokesman said that the  Central Government has launched National Programme for the Health care of Elderly in 100 districts across the country during 11th Five Year Plan. It was being implemented in districts of Mewat, Kurukshetra, Yamuna Nagar and Ambala in Haryana.  Beds have been earmarked for the elderly in the district hospitals in these districts.. 
          He said that in addition to it, many other schemes were being implement by the State Government for welfare of older persons. 
          He said that camps were being organised at district hospitals by running “Special Geriatric Clinic” to examine elderly by a team of Physician, Ophthalmologist, ENT Specialist, Orthopaedician, Surgeon, Gynaecologist, Dental Surgeon and physiotherapist in all the district hospitals. Separate and free registration counter have been setup for free health checkup of the elderly. Also, lab investigations, medicines and spectacles will be provided free of cost to the needy patients, he added.
          He said that  October 1 was declared as International Day of Older Persons by the UN General Assembly on December 14, 1990. The International Day of Older Persons was observed for the first time throughout the world on October 1, 1991 to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21stcentury. Since then International Day of Older Persons was being celebrated annually on October 1 with an aim to raise awareness on the impact of an ageing population and the need to ensure that people could grow old with dignity and continue to participate in society as citizens with full rights.
          He said that The World Health Organization (WHO) was actively involved in promoting public awareness and attention on the International Day of Older Persons, mainly emphasizing on ageing population and the provision of adequate healthcare for aged persons, volunteer work, social care and ways to be more inclusion of older persons in the workforce. He said that it was a special day for older persons or senior citizens all over the world. Various activities concerning the older persons  were conducted and these included display of promotional material on the International Day of Older Persons in schools, tertiary institutions, office buildings and public notice boards, media announcements on the day and activities that promote older persons and inter-generational cooperation on voluntary activities focused on the environment, health, education or community services.

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